You are here

How do you let music affect you in the world?

Have you ever heard a song that took you back to a former part of life? Just listening to it makes you think of a time frame or a certain moment and, of course, it comes to life in the confines of your mind.

I had that experience just the other day. I was on the Facebook page of a friend of mind and she had posted a link to the video of “Mr. Jones” by the Counting Crows. Instantly, I thought of those days of youth when my friends and I use to listen to the likes of the R.E.M., Nirvana and many other ’90s groups.

This time travel to the past got me to ponder upon the sway of music upon us all.

I always find it amazing how a song can create in us a nostalgic theater that can be so strong that you almost feel you’re in that moment or place once again. To hit a little harder at my point, think about that time you first shared a song with that special one you love. Maybe it was a first date or moment of realization of how much that person means to you. I bet if you hear that song, the first thing you think of is that person followed by every minute detail of that moment. That is a powerful hold that music carries.

It stays with us and moves us. Music has been used in almost all things at some point in history. We use in celebration of life and in mourning of a death. The Bible even speaks of using it to praise God. The outdoors are often compared to a symphony filled with sounds of birds, animals, flowing water, the wind moving in the air and the chirps of crickets all singing to their creator of life abounding. Even our physical existence brings forth music as each of our hearts beat with a rhythm of life that echoes the song of creation. Are we not all instruments in the orchestra of life? That is the power of music!

Like life, music can have its bad side, as well. Sometimes there are songs that fill one with sadness and can feed a person’s loneliness or pain. Some music provokes us to lash out to a world filled with coldness. This, once again, is the power of music. Music really is a part of being human and a source of expression. It speaks volumes to who we are as creations, the good and bad that we would use for celebration and desolation.

I know I might be sentimental or overly contemplative on the issue, but it’s something that I always come to a deep point of thought on and I know I’m not alone in this subject of reflection. If any point comes from this odd column, it simply is this question: What do you listen to and how do you let it affect the world around you? Think about it and see where it leads you.